Migrant businesswomen blaze an inspirational trail

As a refugee from Burundi, Odetta Ntezicimpa, spent five years in refugee camps before arriving in New Zealand, fluent in three languages but finding English a struggle.

Now she’s running her own business as a driving instructor, having learned to drive and battled the challenge of finding seed capital.

Her perseverance means she is now helping other immigrants improve their lives in New Zealand by teaching them to drive.

“Sometimes after a student passes, we all dance and hug and kiss, and I just know that it’s a huge success for them. At the end of the day it does change somebody’s life,” she says.

A determination to succeed and an unswerving belief in themselves are qualities also displayed by other inspirational migrant women business entrepreneurs, whose stories can be found in a booklet being launched by the Office of Ethnic Affairs and the Department of Labour.

Another of the journeys described in the book ‘Trailblazers’ is that of Wendy Chen from China. Within two years of arriving in New Zealand Wendy had taken two jobs, had returned to studying at Auckland University, and was running her own business. She was also doing the accounts for another local business, after teaching herself the skill from instructions supplied by Inland Revenue.

Wendy believes many migrants can succeed in business and the workforce, as well as integrate into New Zealand society if they have the right attitude. “I consider myself lucky,” she says. “Although I struggled in the beginning I never felt completely rejected. Although I questioned myself, I never for a minute thought that I was not capable of succeeding.”

Cristina Casares is a 3D Animation Producer, originally from Argentina, who believes New Zealand’s attitude towards women makes the country special. She believes being a woman in a male-dominated industry has been an advantage. “New Zealand has a lot of strong female leaders and entrepreneurs. So there really is a culture of respect for talented women.” Cristina sees this culture of respect extending to immigrants as well.

The launch of the booklet ‘Trailblazers’ which has the stories of seven successful business migrant women is taking place on 28 June 2011, 10 am to 12:30pm, at the Quality Hotel Barrycourt, 10-20 Gladstone Road, Parnell.

The women range from a restaurateur to a financial consultant to a driving instructor.

What they have in common is an unswerving belief in themselves, a determination to succeed and a commitment to pursuing their professional aspirations in their new homeland.

The Office of Ethnic Affairs is part of the Department of Internal Affairs and provides advice and support to government, businesses and ethnic communities about the challenges and opportunities of ethnic diversity.